Rowan Baxter controlled, abused, stalked and killed his estranged wife and their children, and spent days planning the act. New evidence uncovered by Guardian Australia reveals serious police failings in the lead-up to the murders of Hannah Clarke and her three children that were overlooked by the coronial inquest and never investigated by homicide detectives.
Former senior detective, Kate Pausina, believes the most startling revelation in the new evidence is that a number of police officers involved in investigating the killings had doubts about Clarke’s allegations that she had been a victim of domestic violence and coercive control – even after she was murdered.
A document prepared by detectives for a meeting with the state coroner on 10 March 2020 summarises early investigations and the proposed direction of the case. A number of issues are listed for investigation – the first of which is the “veracity and motive” of Clarke’s domestic violence allegations.
“Witness statements provide different accounts of the nature and severity of the domestic violence committed by Rowan,” the briefing document says.
It says those witnesses – whose evidence was later criticised by the coroner – “question the veracity of some of the allegations made by Hannah … in the affidavit she completed and the motive for her making a DVO application”.
Clarke’s affidavit had stated that she believed Baxter was “totally capable of killing himself and killing our children to get back at me. This scares me beyond words.”
Cameron Harsley retired in September 2025.
In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org
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